The Absorption of Slowπ−Mesons byHe3

Abstract

A theoretical investigation of the absorption of ${\pi }^{-}$ mesons by ${\mathrm{He}}^3$ has been carried out in the impulse approximation, using the operators of the weak coupling theory. A similar calculation of ${\pi }^{-}$ absorption in hydrogen and deuterium when compared with experiment fixes the constants in the theory. Consequently the branching ratios between the 6 competing absorption processes in ${\mathrm{He}}^3$ can be predicted unambiguously. Comparison of these ratios and of the calculated $\gamma$-ray spectrum with experiment should provide a good test of the theory.